Darren Pratley confident ahead of Leeds United trip

Bolton Wanderers captain Darren Pratley has called on his team-mates to embrace playing in front of what is expected to be two bumper followings in their next two matches against Leeds United and Birmingham City.

The Whites have sold out their allocation of 2,500 for their trip to Elland Road on Good Friday, while a packed crowd is also anticipated for the visit of Birmingham City to Macron Stadium on Tuesday.

And with Bolton unbeaten from their last three games before the March international break, the 32-year-old has called for more of the same ahead of the Trotters' trip to Leeds.

“I think we’ve got the experience to go to a place like Leeds and a full house and handle it, no problem,” Pratley told The Bolton News.

“Over the last couple of games the gaffer has probably picked his most experienced team and we’ve been playing well and been picking points up away from home too.

“If that doesn’t give us confidence going to Leeds – who have dropped off a bit lately – then nothing will.”

Pratley captained Wanderers when they suffered relegation two seasons ago, but believes the character and spirit in the squad this time around will be enough to pull them through as the Whites look to extend the gap between themselves and the bottom three..

“I think the writing was on the wall pretty early on with that team [in 2015/16]," he said.

“And maybe you’d have said that after 10-11 games with us lot.

“But there has been more belief in this team, a bit more togetherness, and there hasn’t been as much distraction off the pitch. It seems more settled.

“As a team we’re confident we can do what we set out to at the start of the season, and that’s stay in this division.”